I. verbalsocanvas(canvassed; canvassing)Date: 1508transitive verb1.obsolete to toss in a canvas sheet in sport or punishment
2.a. to examine in detail; specifically to examine (votes) officially for authenticity
b.discuss, debate3. to go through (a district) or go to (persons) in order to solicit orders or political support or to determine opinions or sentiments <

canvass voters

>intransitive verb
to seek orders or votes ;solicit
• canvasseralso canvasernounII. nounalsocanvasDate: circa 1611
the act or an instance of canvassing; especially a personal solicitation of votes or survey of public opinion

Canvass — Can vass, n. 1. Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a canvass of votes. Bacon. [1913 Webster] 2. Examination in the way of discussion or debate. [1913 Webster] 3. Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Canvass — Can vass, v. i. To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by traversing a district; as, to canvass for subscriptions or for votes; to canvass for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; commonly followed by for. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

canvass — can‧vass [ˈkænvəs] verb [transitive] MARKETING 1. to ask people about something in order to get their opinion or to get information: • People were canvassed for their opinions on the scheme. canvasser noun [countable] : • You may get a brief… … Financial and business terms

canvass — c.1500, from CANVAS (Cf. canvas) and probably meaning, originally, to toss in a canvas sheet, hence to shake out, examine carefully (1520s); to solicit votes (1550s); though to sift through canvas also has been proposed as the basic metaphor. The … Etymology dictionary

canvass — [kan′vəs] vt. [&LT; CANVAS &LT; ? use of canvas for sifting] 1. to examine or discuss in detail; look over carefully 2. to go through (places) or among (people) asking for (votes, opinions, orders, etc.) vi. to try to get votes, orders, etc.;… … English World dictionary

canvass — can|vass [ˈkænvəs] v [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: canvass to throw up in the air from a canvas sheet as a game or punishment (16 17 centuries), from canvas] 1.) [I and T] to try to persuade people to support a political party, politician, plan etc… … Dictionary of contemporary English